How to Announce That We Are Married

by Kathryn Rateliff Barr

Whether you elope, plan an intimate wedding, visit the courthouse or throw a large break-the-bank wedding, there are always people you need to tell after the wedding. You can do it with flair and class to keep them from feeling offended because you did not invite them and you can have fun while doing it.

Posted Announcements

The traditional newspaper posting is still alive and well in many communities and often available for free. Your announcement may need to be edited for grammar and length, but the important details will appear and you can often submit a wedding photo to accompany your announcement. You can also post the information on your social network with a post that will ensure that most of your friends and family will see it, especially those that do not subscribe to your hometown newspaper -- certainly a growing number these days.

Picture This

Create a website to announce your wedding, complete with wedding pictures and a casual explanation about why everyone could not be part of the ceremony. The pictures can demonstrate the beauty of a destination wedding or that your gathering was small and unable to accommodate a large crowd. Consider sending pictures by text or posting them on your social-media pages. Include an explanation about why you did not invite everyone to the wedding, but keep it casual and lighthearted. Remember, you do not need to apology for your decisions, per se, but offering a simple explanation to the people you care about is always appropriate.

Party Time

Invite your friends to a party, but do not tell them why you are having a party. During the event, announce that you are married. Display a side show featuring wedding pictures. You can also use this time to explain why guests were not invited to the event. This type of party encourages your friends to celebrate your new life without feeling obligated to give you a wedding gift, so it can be a good option for those who have been previously married. If you decide to tell your friends about the reason for your party, host a wedding costume party where everyone comes as a member of the wedding, such as bridal party or minister in commemoration of the event.

It's in the Mail

Bundle your wedding announcement with your new address if you have not been living together already, suggests Ariel Meadow Stallings, in her article “Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides” on OffbeatBride.com. Stallings counsels that those receiving announcements could see it as a thinly disguised bid for wedding gifts after the fact, so you can include a note explaining that gifts are not desired. You can print pictures from the wedding in the card or include a picture of the two of you in front of your new digs.

References

About the Author

Rev. Kathryn Rateliff Barr has taught birth, parenting, vaccinations and alternative medicine classes since 1994. She is a pastoral family counselor and has parented birth, step, adopted and foster children. She holds bachelor's degrees in English and history from Centenary College of Louisiana. Studies include midwifery, naturopathy and other alternative therapies.